Bush refers to McCain as a 'true conservative'

February 11, 2008|The New York Times

WASHINGTON — President Bush broke his silence on the 2008 presidential race on Sunday, giving his imprimatur to Sen. John McCain of Arizona as a "true conservative," who nonetheless has "got some convincing to do" to persuade fellow Republicans. .

The remark, in an hourlong interview broadcast on Fox News Sunday, is as close to an endorsement as McCain will get from Bush at this stage, before a nominee has been officially declared. It was also a sharp departure for Bush, who had refused to be drawn into commenting on the race.

"I think that if John's the nominee, he's got some convincing to do to convince people that he is a solid conservative," Bush told Fox host Chris Wallace. "And I'll be glad to help him if he's the nominee, because he is a conservative."

With conservative pundits like Rush Limbaugh saying that a McCain nomination would destroy the Republican Party, the senator's advisers had been hoping for just this sort of public embrace.

Until now, with the exception of an early prediction that Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York would be the Democratic nominee, Bush had done his best to steer clear of extensive discussions of the candidates, especially the Republicans.

He also defended former President Bill Clinton, who has been accused of playing on racial sentiments by attacking Hillary's opponent, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

"I can understand why President Clinton wants to campaign hard for his wife," Bush said. "And you know, these accusations that Bill Clinton is a racist I think is just wrong. I just don't agree with it."